Overview

• Bilaspur’s NIA court granted bail to Sisters Preethi Mary, Vandana Francis and Sukaman Mandavi on condition of a ₹50,000 bond each, two sureties and surrender of passports.
• The defense argued that the FIR was based on unverified allegations since the women involved are adults practising Christianity and their parents confirmed no forcible abduction.
• Public prosecutor Dauram Chandravanshi opposed the bail applications by highlighting the early stage of the investigation but did not seek custodial interrogation.
• The arrests at Durg railway station on July 25 provoked widespread protests in Kerala, with church leaders and political parties decrying an abuse of anti-conversion laws.
• Investigations are ongoing under Chhattisgarh’s strict anti-conversion statute as national debates intensify over minority protections and tribal law enforcement.